Jim Bob StrothersJim Bob started his career in retail, planning and setting up garden departments for Home depot. he honed his leadership skills here for eight years, directing large teams and finding the joy in the mundane tasks of a big box retailer.
switching gears, he moved into the shipping industry, both running and managing his own delivery routes for years, and later finding a home at fedex in sales.
Looking for a way to expand his leadership skills further, he transitioned into restaurant management. At Upward projects. Jim Bob spent three years operating multimillion dollar stores and bringing one concept from the brink of closure to the company’s most profitable store.
After taking a six month sabbatical to travel and spend time exploring the east coast and europe, Jim Bob and Kelsey returned to the phoenix area to start their own restaurant, Worth Takeaway. During this time, the strothers’ not only ran worth, but consulted for other concepts such as pedal haus, mas amable and more.
Kelsey Strothersafter receiving her bachelor’s degree in science and dietetics, Kelsey started her career in the nutrition and public health arena. a few years into working for the state, it was clear that food and beverage was where her passion was. having spent years in the restaurant industry, Kelsey found a home at Upward Projects
After three years, Kelsey was managing the busiest restaurant in the organization, analyzing p&Ls, increasing profitability through efficiency and proper ordering practices.
Kelsey and Jim Bob knew that it was time for a change and planned on opening their own restaurant. after a six month SABBATICAL, of traveling, they settled in downtown mesa to establish worth takeaway.
over the last 10 years, kelsey has grown worth takeaway and it’s reach, as well as worked help other small businesses grow and flourish.
❋
Worth takeaway was a passion project that opened over a decade ago in february of 2016. Kelsey and jim bob were tired of driving away from their own community to find something ‘cool’ and took a risk to invest in their own downtown. with creative budgeting and a lot of hard work, they were able to open their shop and provide a much needed hub in the area.
quickly, worth went from being a local sandwich shop to an award winning, independently owned restaurant. Over the years it’s won ‘best sandwich’ in many different best of lists, made the yelp top 100 twice and was named people magazine’s best sandwich in arizona from their national list.
The thought has always been ‘if we think it’s cool, other people probably will too’ and that has held true. Worth has succeeded because of the authenticity of those who care about it and invest in it.
assistant Culinary Director
Anthony riverawith a background that makes him uniquely qualified for restaurant development and operations, Anthony was brought onto the team at Holy Bejeebers in 2025.
His culinary career started at the Scottsdale Culinary institute. where he went on to work in a chef capacity at valley staples such as lons at the hermosa inn, the sheraton downtown phoenix and wild horse pass, and lgo hospitality (chelsea’s kitchen and lgo pizzeria.)
During his time in kitchens, he expanded his education with a degree in MATHEMATICS with an emphasis in statistics.
after years in kitchens, anthony expanded his portfolio by spending the next eight years learning the ins and outs of food service distribution as an account manager at Vesta Foodservice, santa monica seafood and finally as a National sales manager at world class Meats.
Anthony is currently the culinary director for Holy Bejeebers, overseeing restaurant management and culinary operations for catering and CONSULTATIONS.
Marty Heinrick
Culinary Director
Marty has an extensive culinary background and experience in creating delicious and creative menus. after receiving his culinary degree, he went on to work for many restaurants in the phoenix area, in both sous and executive sous roles. He spent time at sasha’s, joe’s midnight run, josephine’s and lon’s at the hermosa inn.
He specializes in menu building and costing, large scale catering and food service operations and logistics.
Administrative assistant
Breann Bowmanbreann started her career working for apple as a specialist. after years of customer service experience, she moved on to help the strothers’ manage the mesa farmer’s market and flea. while helping to build her family company, simple soda.
in 2023, After years with simple soda, breann decided to focus her attention more on hospitality and come back to work full time at worth takeaway as an administrative assistant.
eventually breann expanded her skillset and took on more roles within the company, helping to grow the catering program, and aiding in the expansion of pr and marketing for the worth.
Through breann’s attention to detail, eye for aesthetics, and ability to take on new skills efficiently, she’s the perfect addition for any project.